UK band with major 00s hits promise 'instant gratification' with new album and local gig
By Alasdair Perry
19th Jun 2023 | Local News
A UK pop band with major 00s hits have promised 'instant gratification' to listeners with their upcoming album - also performing a local gig this summer.
The Hoosiers, most famous for their number one album 'The Trick to Life', and top five hit, 'Goodbye Mr A,' are performing at Gorilla, Manchester, on 3 October.
Set to release new album, 'Confidence' on Friday 15 September this year, The Hoosiers are back with new material for the first time in eight years.
Our sister newspaper Crewe Nub News spoke to the band.
"We were grateful for all our shows, but it felt like we were running out of fuel going into the COVID pandemic and something had to change," said lead singer, Irwin Sparkes.
The Hoosiers are a two-piece group - starring Irwin and drummer, Alan Sharland.
From Reading, the two-piece band have released four studio albums to date - with two making the top ten.
The Hoosiers have also tasted success from singles such as 'Worried About Ray', 'Cops and Robbers,' and 'Choices' - releasing latest single 'Hello Sunshine' this April.
Irwin told Nub News: "During lockdown, we had a chat with Craig Logan, who used to be the bass player for pop band Bros.
"He signed us up to the RCA Label Group and reminded us of who we are - encouraging us to make a brand new album.
"If there was ever a time to write three-minute pop songs that were like a shot of vitamin C and D into the ear, then it was during the lockdown.
"It felt like the most natural process to write and it was almost as if we had gotten better.
"We wrote and recorded the whole album in three months. This had previously taken us six months or longer and £250,000 of record label money.
"After a lot of different projects and breaks, it made us realise we have something really special with The Hoosiers.
"It has made us value each other more. Right now, the love and the bromance has never been stronger."
The band are soon to start a UK tour, visiting a number of places which they haven't been to in years, playing songs from their new album, Confidence.
Consisting of twelve tracks, the album is the "musical equivalent of a spring in your step", according to Irwin.
The lead singer added: "This album has the same spit as "The Trick to Life' - with us starting out all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
"Confidence is like a booster pack. Myself and Alan feel a renewed confidence in what we do.
"We want to feed this confidence into the audience, lifting everyone's day as much as we can through the music and making a real positive impact.
"It's effervescent and knows what it is. There's been a point in our career where we've pulled back from that or tried to move people in a different way.
"Now, we are really embracing what we are and seeing that as a strength. That is where our title comes from."
Confidence was produced in Angelic Recording Studio during lockdown - built by the late Jamiroquai musician, Toby Smith.
Engineer for 2007's 'The Trick to Life,' Sam Miller, returned to co-produce The Hoosiers' new record - in what has been described as a "homecoming."
Irwin believes the upcoming release drives The Hoosiers into the 2020s.
The 42-year-old said: "Our first single, Hello Sunshine, serves as the best reminder for who we are. It's a re-introduction into The Hoosiers.
"None of this album was made cynically. There wasn't a sense of lets remake 'Goodbye Mr A.'
"We just sat down and wrote the best songs we could - trying to communicate something you often find hard to express.
"One song I can't wait for people to hear is the track 'Making A Monster.' That's coming out soon enough. It has something extra about it."
"In the meantime, an underrated track people should go back and listen to is 'The Most Peculiar Day Of Your Life' - the groove pulls you in right from the get go, I am really into it."
Irwin believes Confidence can bring a renewed positivity and energy to those listening to it.
The lead singer believes the new record will appeal to a variety of age groups, and encoruages all to give it a try.
Irwin added: "If you value life itself and want it to get better, The Hoosiers can provide what you need.
"We are a lot of young adults' first memory of music. We feel honoured to still have people to play to.
"People should come and watch us so they can relive their childhoods as we bring them into the future with our new music."
Check out other tour dates HERE. You can also pre-order the album 'Confidence' HERE.
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